TD Calls On Trade Unions To Support Nurses Strike

People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has called on other trade unions and workers in the health service to get behind the nurses strike planned for January 30th.

The TD was responding to statements from both the Government and some union officials about the pending dispute.

The TD said: “There is a concerted and coordinated campaign by the Finance Minister and Government to try to divide and conquer workers. The nurses’ strike is about the future of the public health system. We are at breaking point in our hospitals because of past Government policy on pay and conditions in the public service and its ongoing privatisation of health care.

“If we want a decent health care system and an end to trolley and A&E waits we need to pay nurses a decent wage that will keep and recruit nurses in this country.

“I am appealing to nurses, especially in SIPTU and other public health unions to make it clear that they support the campaign by the INMO. Workers across the health sector need to get behind the nurses’ fight and say that they won’t allow this Government to isolate them in the coming weeks

“If the nurses don’t win it will make the crisis in our hospitals worse, it will mean we won’t recruit or retain the staff we need there and it will be a defeat for all the workers in this country”.